Australian koala bears face extinction

Saturday, 14 November 2009 00:00

Within 30 years, the Australian koala bear could be extinct due to global warming and bushfires.

At the moment, the Australian koala bear population is between 43,000 and 80,000 animals, but in 30 years there might not be any left.

So far the assessment has been that the population is on the positive side of 100,000, but scientists from the Australian Koala Foundation now estimate that the numbers are much lower.

Therefore, on 10 November, representatives from the Australian Koala Foundation travelled to Canberra to meet with Environment Minister Peter Garrett’s Threatened Species Steering Committee (TSSC) in hopes of having the koala bear declared an endangered species by the Australian government.

“The koalas are missing everywhere we look. The population in New South Wales has absolutely plummeted (5,435-8,800); the Queensland koala population (18,380-35,980) - which was traditionally a stronghold population - is showing a huge due to irresponsible development; and in the west declines are clearly caused by climate change,” says Australian Koala Foundation CEO Deborah Tabart.

Source: the Australian Koala Foundation